Main menu

When Star Trek gets goofy it gets really, really goofy, usually when it feels the need to deflate after an extended period of high drama or haughtiness. Because I’ve been having fun with Star Trek all day, here’s a list of some of my favorite moments where the show just…kind of loses its mind.

(Note: I didn’t include the movies in this list because otherwise this list would be ten times longer and even after I’d finished it I’d still somehow be writing it.)

Star Trek: The Original Series

When it comes to TOS, people always sight “A Trouble With Tribbles,” but most of us know that episode back to front and sideways. So here are a couple other suggestions for silly moments.

“I, Mudd”

You can’t go wrong with Harry Mudd’s particular histrionics. You also can’t go wrong with trying to shut down androids by illogic-ing at them. Even Spock agrees.

“A Piece of the Action”

The entire episode is pure gold… but nothing beats Captain Kirk making up a card game on the spot. Or having to hush his Spock.

“Shore Leave”

When you’re watching a Star Trek episode and the White Rabbit from Alice in Wonderland just shows up, and you wonder what you did to deserve this perfect show.

Star Trek: The Next Generation

The dynamic of the Next Gen crew always made for a laughs, but here are some of their best….

“Rascals”

It’s worth its weight in dilithium when the captain has to call his First Officer his “Number One Dad.” (Honorable Mention also goes to Riker cuddling a Picard doll on Captain Picard Day.)

“QPid”

Immortals love to play games. Sometimes they love to turn your crew into legendary characters. Sometimes this means that your Chief of Security is going to break your Chief of Engineering’s lute.

“Menage a Troi”

Majel Barrett was a treasure in every role she filled in Trek, but perhaps none so much as the great Lwaxana Troi. Especially when she gets Picard to endlessly quote Shakespeare for her.

“Goodnight, Sweet B”

Wait what do you mean this isn’t a real Next Gen episode?!??

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

Most of Deep Space Nine‘s funny moments were character-based–strong personalities coming up against each other constantly on the station–which was precisely the point. It’s hard to capture that kind of humor outside of its context, but there are some sublime moments…

“The Quickening”

Come to Quark’s! Quark’s is fun! (But seriously, can I have that mug, though.)

“Equilibrium”

Sorry, it’s just, I love cooking, and I love watching Sisko cook, and then I love watching Odo not understand how to use a whisk. You know what? I’m not sorry, I’m right. It’s adorable.

“Take Me Out to the Holosuite”

When your captain and Worf get into a fight with the umpire, and then umpire ejects your captain from his own baseball game….

Star Trek: Voyager

When you’re deep in the Delta Quadrant and think that it might take you a lifetime to get home… let’s just say the rules start heading out the window pretty darn quickly. Near the end of its run, the Voyager cast and crew had been marinating together for…a while.

“Timeless”

I’m a sucker for certain tropes and “first time being drunk” is definitely one of them. Particularly if you’re as adorable as Seven of Nine.

“Critical Care”

See, Captain Janeway has a problem in this episode where someone assumes that she’s after their man, so eventually, she does the only thing that makes sense to them–she pretends that she and Tuvok are quite happy together.

“Tinker, Tenor, Doctor, Spy”

At 1:39 in the below video The Doctor gets to say what we’ve always wanted to hear on a Star Trek show. AND THEN THERE’S EXPOSITORY SINGING.

Star Trek: Enterprise

They’re figuring it all out. It’s their first time in space and stuff.

“Singularity”

When people on the ship start getting loopy, Trip Tucker’s first response is “I’m gonna build you a THRONE.” Like ya do.

“The Breach”

Thankfully, Dr. Phlox does know what Tribbles are, and precisely what to do with them. Hoshi is suitably shocked, on the other hand.

“Breaking the Ice”

When you’re trying to re-enact Frozen and your captain calls you up to scold you. Oops.